Shake it.

I'll take you home if you don't leave me at the front door

Crystal sat silently on the wet concrete of the university steps. Her jeans were soaked through, and she could feel the goose bumps underneath the fabric. She shuddered, and another flash of lightening lights up the dark gray sky. She wants to curse, but her lips feel too moist to do so-and she huddles closer to her own body and the umbrella for warmth.

Almost all the students had left, and no one was left to take her to her apartment a few miles away. Would it be safe to walk? No….this storm always had a mind of its own-one moment whispering a drizzle, and the next-billows of lashing rain. But she couldn’t sit here forever…

She’s contemplating her options when she sees a pair of headlights in the distance, making no note of them until the car stops directly in front of her. A bright red sports car. She looks up and into the mischievous eyes of an amber eyed man. He grins, rolling down the window so she can hear him, and it surprises her that he would even THINK of getting the nice seats of his fancy car wet.

“Well? Are you going to hop in or sit out there for the rest of your life? My nice seats don’t appreciate the weather,” He yells over the storm, his laugh carrying over the wind.

She rolls her eyes, skipping down the stairs and over the puddles to the car door which she opens and bangs shut quickly.

“What are you-?”

“-Doing here? Helping a damsel in distress baby.”

Crystal sighs, all of a sudden regretting her rash action of taking a ride with GOLD for chrissake, but it was definitely better than sitting on cold concrete steps the whole evening. She stares out the window in silence, the heater and radio filling in the background noise.

“You want a cigarette?” Gold asks, pointing to a pack in the cup holder next to her. She glances at it. She wasn’t a frequent smoker and was trying to quit-but her skin felt so cold…..

She lights two for the both of them.

The drive is only 10 minutes, though it feels like an hour, she hops out grabbing her schoolbag and unable to make eye contact to her unlikely savior.

“Thanks.” She mutters awkwardly under her breath, but he mustn’t have heard because he says at the same time-

“Aren’t you going to invite me in?”


Your body's cold, but girl we're getting so warm

And I was thinking of ways that I could get inside (get inside)

Crystal was a conservative person, and left no electricity to waste-which probably explained the stone cold stillness in her apartment as the two walked inside.

She flipped a switch upon entering, and a cool energy conservative light bulb flickered hauntingly above them-no help in the temperature.

“Help yourself to anything in the kitchen. There’s an ashtray in the cabinet.” She called down the hall, closing the door to her room softly behind her.

A cold silence fills the room, and Gold doesn’t bother with the cabinet-tapping his cigarette into a potted plant. He stands awkwardly, his eyes racing over the flaky walls and the pictures that tried to hide it. Here’s one at the beach, smiling at warmer days. And another-laughing as she volunteers at some charity.

But what’s this?

A small photo, a black and white Polaroid of her prom night. He remembered that dress. It had been a baby blue. Rippling at her knees and strapless, along with a small short sleeved white jacket that unfortunately covered her shapely shoulders.

She was laughing, and he remembered how pretty her hair looked when it was down….

He could see himself, a younger teen holding his prize close. His hands were wrapped around her waist, and the rose she had presented to him was placed proudly on his lapel. They were both smiling in the picture, and though it was just an old black and white Polaroid he knew all the colors by heart.

He couldn’t believe she had kept it.


When she comes out 10 minutes later, Gold is sitting on the kitchen table sipping from a warm mug.

“You want some coffee?”


Tonight you're falling in love  

This feeling's tearing me up (here we go now)

Sitting next to him is absolutely unbearable.

When was the last time they had talked? She’d broken up with him and been at the University for 2 years now…..

She’s never thought he’d follow her the whole way here. And never thought he’d remember how she liked her coffee.

Then if she felt so awkward about him, why did her heart feel so much longing to see him again?


Now if she does it like this, will you do it like that?

Gold watched her finger her mug in that way he knew she was nervous, and all of sudden it made him proud to have made her loose her cool.


Now if she touches like this, will you touch her right back?

Her bare foot touches his shoe, and she recoils instantly, he grins and slouches, his long legs touching hers under the small table.


Now if she moves like this, will you move her like that? (Come on)

“I-I’m getting some more sugar.” She stutters, standing up a little too quickly.  Crystal places her mug on the counter behind her, fingering the spoon shakily. She could feel his eyes on her back, and she didn’t know of she wanted to disappear or to apologize profusely and confess everything…..

She gasps as hands snake around her neck.

“I think that’s a little too much sugar.” Gold whispers darkly in her ear, and Crystal pauses mid 14th  spoon.


Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, uh shake it

Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, uh shake it

Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, uh shake it


Your lips tremble but your eyes are in a straight stare (straight stare)

The two are breathing heavily, the words of hate and contempt dissipating into the electrifying air. The silence after a long battle is overwhelming, and all of a sudden Green can hear the patter of rain on the window, lashing loudly at the shutters.

Oh. He had’nt heard the rain over their voices.

He can’t bear to look at her from his spot on the couch, and it bothers him because he knows she’s staring right at him. Green can still see imagine the glistening in her eyes, and he’s afraid that if he turns around, they’ll pour out.

The silence is unbearable, and the crash of thunder makes them both jump. She squeaks in surprise, and he can hear the slap of her hand over her mouth.

He turns around, and their eyes meet in the dim lighting off the room.


We're on the bed but your clothes are laying right there

The awkward silence is enough of a Band-Aid to last for the moment-yet the two are silent as they crawl into their side of the bed. The sheets are unpleasantly cool, and Blue feels the strain as the blanket is stretched and pulled.

She pulls the comforter closer to herself, but blankets don’t contain heat as much as another body does. Skin to skin body heat is always so much better than a blanket…

The rain is pattering even louder against the window and it rings annoyingly in her ears. Lightning and thunder pass over her, and her eyes refuse to close as the fill with momentary light.

She dares a glance at him, his sleeping figure lighted up by a flash of lighting through the slit in the curtain. She can see his old gray T-shirt, and she wants to ask him if he would come a little closer to her…


And I was thinking of places that I could hide (I could hide)

Green lied silently, trying his best to remain still and “asleep” as his eyes wandered his side of the room. He was turned away from her, and though she remained completely still-he knew she was awake like him.

Green considered saying something. Considered getting a glass of water. Or maybe grabbing a blanket from the closet and sleeping in the living room where he wouldn’t dwell on thoughts of her. He groans in frustration (a little too loudly he realizes), all he wants to do is disappear.


Tonight you're falling in love (let me go now)

They want to say something, say that they’re really sorry…They didn’t mean that…what they said to each other. They loved each other.

Say something!

“Blue-“

“Green-“

Silence again.


This feelings tearing me up (here we go now)

“I didn’t mean it.” They whisper across the room, and another crash of lightning Christians the words.

Their laughs are drowned by the thunder.

Now if she does it like this, will you do it like that?

Blue scoots closer, and Green lets her-her body heat welcome.


Now if she touches like this, will you touch her right back?

His strong arms wrap around her waist and it feels like it belongs there. She sighs in content, and he smiles in her long hair-happy to have made her pleased.


Now if she moves like this, will you move her like that? (Come on)

“You’re a bastard Green.” Blue smiles, pecking him on the cheek as she snuggles closer to his chest.

“You’re a pesky idiot Blue.” Green kisses her nose, and the smile at each other until their eyes feel heavy and the rain dies into a lullaby of a drizzle.


Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, uh shake it

Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, uh shake it

Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, uh shake it


I saw you dancing and I couldn't get you off my mind

The bar was smokier and emptier than usual, and quite stuffy as none of the windows had been opened. The rain lashed angrily at the shutters, making them bang against the glass. He wondered why none of the waiters closed them….

Red sat silently on the bar stool at the front of the dimly lit room, the smoke of his cigarette curling into interesting shapes in the light, like incense at a temple. The faint sound of music reverberated from the stage-though it wasn’t live. An outdated radio sat heavily on a stool there, emitting a melancholy but jazzy song. On better days, the bar would be packed, and live rhythmic music would echo across the street.

But where was the money to afford that now a days?

A loud moan reverberates from the back room, and Red doesn’t bother to turn. He wanted to yell at them to get a ROOM for chrissake, but then again they already had one. Red makes a note on a napkin to soundproof the back bed rooms, making sure to stick it under his check so the manager gets it.

It’s quiet, and the last person leaves the old bar, the door jingle drowned out by the sound of rain as the door opens and bangs shut. The clock chimes 12, and Red is alone.

That little blonde girl is wiping the tables again. She always was, without fail.

She’s small, perhaps his age or a few years younger. Doesn’t look at all like she belongs at a bar, especially a sex bar. Doesn’t really have the body for it. But she definitely has the smile. She’s smiling now, humming to the radio as she wipes the tables in clean circular motions. She’s movingto the beat, her long ponytail bouncing as she subtly dances to the music in a innocent kind of way. Her lips turn upward as they mutter the words to the song. She yawns tiredly, stretching her arms, and rubbing her eyes like a child.

He didn’t know much about her, though the manager had told him she took a job in the kitchen washing dishes and such. She was pretty in a unique way, and it bothered Red that he didn’t know her name.

“Hello! Can I help you?” A sweet voice ripples through the stuffy air like a knife, and Red looks up at her from his thoughts. She’s holding the rag against a table, and smiling in his direction.

“Oh! You were talking to me….”

She laughs, taking it as a funny joke. “Is there anyone else I would talk to?” She smiles, motioning to the empty chairs.

It makes him smile.


(I could tell that you could tell that I was takin' my time)

It’s quiet after that, and he watches her finish cleaning the tables one by one. It’s only after she finishes that he feels guilty about not helping her. What kind of gentlemen was he?

She takes a bin of dirty beer glasses and rags and places them under the bar counter, dodging into the kitchen quickly to grab a jacket and a bag. She walks back into the bar in an old trench coat on and a tired smile on her face.

“Well then…Have a nice evening.” She says with a soft smile, nodding her head in his direction.

Red doesn’t know what to say…he doesn’t want her to go…..but she’s walking out the door….

“Wait!”

The word seems loud in such an empty place and not only is she surprised but so is he. She turns around, her long blonde hair flipping majestically behind her.

“Yes?”

“I-I was wondering if you would like to have a cigar with me?”

She laughs again, that beautiful high tinkling sound…..

“I’d love to, but I don’t smoke. Thanks though….What’s your name? I see you here often all by yourself….” Her voice trails off, and she takes a step forward, her amber eyes drilling curiously into his.

He smiles, imagining how she saw him. Just another person on the street with no work or money, wasting what he had on the bar. The usual stereotype.

“Only if you tell me yours.”

“Touché.” She grins, “My name is Amarillo. But you can call me Yellow.” She winks.

“Ross. Red Ross.” He nods his head, holding his hand out-and her small one fits in it perfectly and firmly as they shake.

“A pleasure to meet you Red. See you tomorrow then?”


I was thinking of ways that you would stay and be mine

“Don’t you have a umbrella?” Red asks her as she turns toward the door, stopping her in her tracks for the second time that day. Yellow turns, shaking her head like a doll. Your making yourself look so stupid!

“No….I…uh…..Left it at home today.” She manages. No you idiot, you can’t afford one.

“I could take you home if you want.” Red says with that dashing smile of his, and she feel her cheeks get warm from the stuffiness. There’s a groan from the backroom-and her ears feel even warmer. Note to self-Tell boss to soundproof back room.

“Oh, it’s alright. It’s only a 5 minute walk. I’ll be fine. Thanks though.” Yellow says, nodding her head again. She turns again, but he grabs her wrist. The touch is electrifying and she feels her cool composure slip away. She’s been seeing him here for months…..then why was she so shy?

“I live in the student apartments too. Do you go to the University?”

“Yeah….I major in Biology.” Yellow says weakly, not even bothering to wonder how he knew she lived there.

“I major in Physics.” He says, his ruby eyes shining in the dark. For someone who had spent a whole evening at a bar, he certainly didn’t look wasted.

“My car’s out back. C’mon. It’s no problem.”


(Your body's shaking, turn me on, so I can turn off the lights)

She’s quieter in his car, fidgeting anxiously with her trench coat. They arrive at the apartments quickly and she directs him towards hers….

“Thanks.” She says with a small smile and nod. He doesn’t feel like he can breathe anymore, but he manages a goofy grin.

“See you tomorrow?” Red asks hesitantly, and she smiles angelically.

“Haven’t I always?”


Now if she does it like this, will you do it like that?

The next day Red helps her clean the tables much to her surprise and aghast. And when he takes her back home, she can’t help but feel so much more comfortable with him….


Now if she touches like this, will you touch her right back?

Her hand accidently brushes his hand one day while their talking, bottles of coke in each hand as they sit in his apartment. She recoils quickly, but his hand is too fast, and he grabs her fingers-squeezing it tightly as he stares into her eyes.


Now if she moves like this, will you move her like that? (Come on)

She’s spinning and spinning, her hands catching the summer rain as it falls on top of her pale face, and immerses itself in her long golden locks. He watches from the park bench, to drowned in her to move…

But when she grabs his hand and makes her spin with her, he can’t help but think of a stuffy bar room and a fuzzy radio.

He knows she’s thinking about it too.



Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake, uh shake it